WASTE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1365, 16 February 1912, Page 2

WASTE.

Sir,—A very glaring instance of reckless wasle of money is to >>e seen in Hokitika. J his town has been for many years the centre of Government: offices for'the \Vi\it Coast, and within Hie last iive years u largo brick building, costing some .CUOOO, has been erected to hou-e. the Lands and hurvey, Dislriet Law Registrar, and other Departments, and ample for the. whole of the public services in Westland. Tho necessity for strengthening the member for Wesfland, however, a rose -last election, and a new building lo hold Supreme, Magistrates, and Warden's Courts was promised. Specifications were hurried on, and tenders called, and the contract lias just bcon let for another large building, costing .C 5200, for the courthouse. This expenditure is sheer waste—a much smaller sum would have been sufficient. The amount of work done at the llokiliku Courts is comparatively slight, since (he Supremo Court has been holding sittings in Westport and Greyinouth; yet we sen this large expenditure of public money by a Government who are. just going out of office. Kven on the West Coast the thing is smiled at, and looked oh as a scandal, and ono naturally wonders in how many other localities similar gross extravagances have boon committed as a last fling by tho Ward Government. Even in Hokitika they will find it difficult to justify the erection of a building so much too largo for all possible requirements.—l am, etc., REFORMER.